The renewed speculation over Ferdinand's future at Old Trafford also follows recent friction between the player and his manager, with Sir Alex having labelled his defender's decision in October not to wear a t-shirt in support of the anti-discrimination campaign Kick It Out as "embarrassing".

The Scot has, however, been singing the praises of the 33-year-old in recent weeks, expressing his delight at the form and fitness the defender has displayed so far this campaign, having encountered a number of injury problems over the last couple of seasons.

“It is always good to hear the manager say things like that,” Ferdinand told Inside United. “But you have to take every week and month as it comes. The best thing I can do is to look at it at Christmas, and then again in the summer, to see how I’m feeling and go from there.

“But hearing the manager say things like that definitely puts the spring back in your step.”

Ferdinand also claimed that he is yet to fully reap the rewards of a summer's rest, brought on by his omission from England's squad for Euro 2012.

“I’ll have a better idea of that in December or January time when the games start coming thick and fast,” Ferdinand added.

“That is when it really hits you and you know the hard work really has to start. I’ll probably get a better gauge of where I’m at fitness-wise and the benefit of having the summer off then.”